“Why did you say that?”
Hammersley shrugged. “I had injured their motor, and I knew that I should escape. The bravado of triumph, Excellenz. I was rather happy, for, as a fact, they had given me an uncomfortable evening.”
Rizzio leaned across the table.
“Excellenz, it was to draw attention from the girl, who had the original message and who had concealed herself in a tree.”
General von Stromberg took a small object from his pocket and weighed it lightly in the fingers of one hand. It was the package of Riz-la-Croix. As Hammersley was about to speak, he held up the other hand in demand for silence.
“We are not getting very far, meine Herren,” he said. “Both of you tell excellent stories of your adventures worthy of the best traditions of the Secret Service Department. If, as Herr Rizzio alleges, Herr Hammersley has substituted other papers for the original ones burned by Miss Doris Mather, Herr Hammersley will be shot. If, as Herr Hammersley alleges, Herr Rizzio was in communication with Scotland Yard, the officers of which attempted the life of Herr Hammersley while he bore dispatches for me, Herr Rizzio will be shot. It is a very delicate matter, meine Herren, one which will require much thought, since the one man who could settle the question is in an English prison.”
Hammersley started a pace forward. “Oh, then he is taken!”
Rizzio glanced quickly at Hammersley.
“Excellenz, the same person who caused the arrest of Captain Byfield gave Maxwell to the police.”
Von Stromberg’s gaze followed Rizzio’s to Hammersley.